MAJOR STUDY TACKLES SCOTLAND’S FIRE RISK
People in Scotland are twice as likely to die in house fires compared to the rest of the United Kingdom. People north of the Border are also much more likely to be injured or have their property damaged in fires.

Scotland Together (pdf document)

In response to these facts today sees the launch of a major study report, this Study is the most comprehensive piece of research on this subject ever undertaken in Scotland and examines not only the causes of fire deaths but proposes effective ways to tackle these issues.

Amongst the reported 37 detailed recommendations, The Study calls for:

1) New legislation around Reduced Ignition Propensity (RIP) cigarettes and new regulations around domestic sprinkler systems

2) More effective mechanisms for the delivery of education and prevention in relation to community safety and;

3) The establishment of a ‘Safer Scotland Unit’ to simplify and coordinate the delivery of community safety, improve joint working arrangements and assist in identifying those people most at risk.

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety, commissioned the Scottish Community Fire Safety Study in November 2008 in response to a 62 per cent increase in fire deaths in the previous fiscal year.  Mr Ewing asked Strathclyde Fire & Rescue Chief Officer Brian Sweeney to examine how fire deaths and injuries could be reduced.

The Study looked at issues such as the reasons why Scotland suffers higher rates of fire deaths, accidental dwelling fires and secondary fires (refuse, grass, derelict vehicles and derelict buildings) when compared with the rest of the United Kingdom.  In addition, the Study gathered information on what community safety activity was already ongoing across Scotland’s eight Fire and Rescue Services and how National and Local Government were working collaboratively to develop and implement good practice.

Mr Sweeney formed a small Study team drawn from Scottish Government and Strathclyde Fire & Rescue to look at the whole issue of fire risk in Scotland.  A total of 37 recommendations are included in the final report titled ‘Scotland Together’.

The Study noted that although there had been sustained reductions in fire deaths in Scotland since 1990 (due to a variety of reasons such as Fire and Rescue Service free home fire safety visits, legislation being introduced relating to issues such as foam filled furnishings and the provision of hard-wired smoke detectors in dwellings), Scotland’s rate of fire deaths was still double the UK average, per million population. 

 The ‘Scotland Together’ report highlights specific findings from the Scottish Community Fire Safety Study Fatal Fire Survey 2009. The survey shows that of 171 fatal fire incidents analysed (occurring over a 3 year period) 131 were recorded as accidental dwelling fire deaths. 

The most common causes were smokers’ materials (54) and cooking appliances (28). Alcohol was a contributory factor in 81 of the 131 domestic dwelling cases. Most fires started in living rooms (59), followed by kitchens (37) and bedrooms (22). 

The Study found that 47 per cent of dwelling fire death victims were aged 60 or over, 53 per cent lived alone and victims were more likely to live in the poorest parts of Scotland – 31 per cent of accidental dwelling fires were in the 15 per cent most deprived areas.  The most deprived areas also suffer some 46 per cent of secondary fires, mainly started deliberately.

The Study says that  “the visible scars left by secondary fires can blight local communities, cause considerable harm to the environment and encourage other forms of anti-social behaviour which, in turn, can create a downward spiral of events leading to more serious fires and criminality”  The Study praises the achievements of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Services in their contribution to the major reduction in fire deaths, and examples of good practice are highlighted in the report.

The Study did however find evidence to show that Fire and Rescue Services could be working more efficiently with other agencies such as council social work and housing departments.  In addition, Fire and Rescue Services should work more closely with the Health Service to identify people most at risk from fire.

Among the 37 recommendations, the Study highlights how fire deaths and injuries could be reduced. For instance, a greater sharing of information by local authority Social Work, Housing Services and the Health Service with Scottish Fire and Rescue Services could identify groups or individuals most at risk from fire in their homes.

Care service alarm systems that link the homes of vulnerable people could also alert call handlers to fire in the home and a more joined-up approach to community safety would allow the services to share good practice and improve efficiency and effectiveness.

 The study adds that duplication of effort is evidenced in the delivery of community fire safety activities or initiatives across Scotland’s Fire and Rescue Services.  

Other recommendations include the proposal that the Scottish Government supports the work of other European Union countries to share consistent information about the recording of fire statistics. For instance the Netherlands, unlike Scotland and the rest of the UK, does not record fire deaths that occur in the work place, at road traffic collisions or even when the victim succumbs to their injuries after being rescued from a dwelling house fire.  This shows Scotland as being in a false position when being labeled one of the worst countries in Europe for fire deaths. 

 It is also a recommendation of the Study that Scottish Government issues a “sprinkler challenge” to academic institutions to produce an affordable domestic sprinkler system.  The final recommendation is for a “Safer Scotland Unit” which would provide a central body to assist in simplifying and coordinating the delivery of community safety, create better joint working between key agencies and assist in ensuring all agencies are aware of those people who are most at risk. 

The Study concludes: “The issues faced by Scotland’s Fire and Rescue Services are also relevant to Health Boards, Housing and Social Work Departments, Police Forces and the burgeoning Third Sector”

The principal recommendation is the creation of a ‘Safer Scotland’ unit which will be crucial in delivering the objective of making Scotland safer and stronger.
Brian Sweeney, Strathclyde Fire & Rescue’s Chief Officer and chair of the Scottish Community Fire Safety Study states: “The ‘Scotland Together’ report provides 37 recommendations which will assist in driving down the number of people killed by fire.  The extensive research conducted is unique to Scotland and examines the underlying reasons for the number of people killed by fire. The principle of the ‘Safer Scotland Unit’ needs to be delivered, this report cannot, and must not, lie on a shelf if Scotland is to tackle this issue.”

Fergus Ewing, Minister for Community Safety has stated: "The Scottish Government welcomes the findings of the community fire safety report by Chief Officer Sweeney. While fire deaths continue to show a downward trend, the fact remains that too many people in Scotland are killed or injured by fires in the home.

“As part of the Scottish Government's commitment to reducing fires and fire deaths, I commissioned this report as it is important for me to understand the views, experiences and recommendations of those on the front line of fire prevention.

“The report contains a number of interesting proposals, and clearly demonstrates the need for an effective multi-agency approach, to both target the root cause of fires and deliver preventative solutions. All proposals will be given full consideration and, where appropriate, will help shape the range of work already being delivered by both the Government and its partners.

“All proposals will be given full consideration by the Government and will also be debated in Parliament on 12th November, giving all MSPs an opportunity to share their views on how best to shape the range of work already being delivered by both the Government and its partners."      

Brian Fraser, Head of the Scottish Fire and Rescue Advisory Unit who is pictured with Chief Officer Sweeney, said:  "The eight Fire and Rescue Services in Scotland have fully embraced their duty to deliver community fire safety advice, the result of which has been a real drop in the number of fires in the home. However, there are still many people losing their lives in fires in Scotland.

“The Scotland Together report raises many valid issues which we now need to progress if we are to see a significant reduction in fire deaths. It is clear that fire and rescue service staff across Scotland need to work together in a joined up way, sharing resources, information and ideas, as well as with the Scottish Government and other partner agencies. I look forward to being part of the collaborative implementation of the recommendations in the report".

Cllr Barbara Grant, COSLA spokesperson for Community Safety, said: “Keeping communities safe from the ever present dangers of fire is a key priority for local government.  It is clear from this report that no one service, sector or partner can address these risks alone.  We look forward to working together to improve further Scotland’s record on fire safety”.